Elementary steps of iron catalysis: exploring the links between iron alkyl and iron olefin complexes for their relevance in C-H activation and C-C bond formation

The alkylation of complexes 2 and 7 with Grignard reagents containing β-hydrogen atoms is a process of considerable relevance for the understanding of C-H activation as well as C-C bond formation mediated by low-valent iron species. Specifically, reaction of 2 with EtMgBr under an ethylene atmosphere affords the bis-ethylene complex 1 which is an active precatalyst for prototype [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions and a valuable probe for mechanistic studies. This aspect is illustrated by its conversion into the bis-alkyne complex 6 as an unprecedented representation of a cycloaddition catalyst loaded with two substrates molecules. On the other hand, alkylation of 2 with 1 equivalent of cyclohexylmagnesium bromide furnished the unique iron alkyl species 11 with a 14-electron count, which has no less than four β-H atoms but is nevertheless stable at low temperature against β-hydride elimination. In contrast, the exhaustive alkylation of 1 with cyclohexylmagnesium bromide triggers two consecutive C-H activation reactions mediated by a single iron center. The resulting complex has a diene dihydride character in solution (15), whereas its structure in the solid state is more consistent with an η(3) -allyl iron hydride rendition featuring an additional agostic interaction (14). Finally, the preparation of the cyclopentadienyl iron complex 25 illustrates how an iron-mediated C-H activation cascade can be coaxed to induce a stereoselective CC bond formation. The structures of all relevant new iron complexes in the solid state are presented.